He didn’t believe in pacifism or any other ism. He just wanted the war to stop. He just wanted the voices in his head to stop. But the dirty secret of war is that the dead stay with you.
Thanks, John. I'm equally looking forward to writing the final draft. It's one of those subjects where the more I read about it, the more awful the conflict reveals itself. Thus I only just discovered the figures for deserting in World War One. Presumably Britain alone. Authoritative source, in fact a revisionist source (Western Front Association). Anyway... according to academic study, officially it was 146,000! Probably far higher if 'absent without leave' etc is included. That's a staggering figure. It suggests a very different war to the one we were presented with in the centenary years
Thanks, Daniel. Well observed. He needed to be charismatic and credible. Hence the gravediggers cottage. A kind of poor man's Bruce Wayne. I know that other writers for MI7 propaganda department hated what they were doing, so that gave me a basis for him. A.A. Milne, for instance - who later wrote Winnie the Pooh. So many characters in that era were colourful and larger than life - including Lord Dunsany and Captain Pollard, but they were always on the side of authority. Good to have someone who is challenging authority in a way that I don't recall seeing since the Callan tv series.
There’s a good amount of depth here to get us really interested in what he’s done, why and at what cost to himself. As ‘well rounded’ a character as any assassin should be! Looking forward to the shorts be good to have some episodic once & done stories to compliment the novel.
It all seems like a good build up for the main character, Pat. Living in a grave digger's cottage sounds as if he's asking for trouble 😅
There isn't anything like reality (or ghosts) smacking you in the face to rid you of some of the previously held stupid notions of youth! I like how he's walked himself into a creative, financial and moral cul de sac before he's obliged to change.
This story is right up my street. WWl and the situation in Ireland. Your story will fulfill Horace's dictum that a story should teach as well as delight. Can't wait to read it.
Thanks, John. I'm equally looking forward to writing the final draft. It's one of those subjects where the more I read about it, the more awful the conflict reveals itself. Thus I only just discovered the figures for deserting in World War One. Presumably Britain alone. Authoritative source, in fact a revisionist source (Western Front Association). Anyway... according to academic study, officially it was 146,000! Probably far higher if 'absent without leave' etc is included. That's a staggering figure. It suggests a very different war to the one we were presented with in the centenary years
Thanks, Daniel. Well observed. He needed to be charismatic and credible. Hence the gravediggers cottage. A kind of poor man's Bruce Wayne. I know that other writers for MI7 propaganda department hated what they were doing, so that gave me a basis for him. A.A. Milne, for instance - who later wrote Winnie the Pooh. So many characters in that era were colourful and larger than life - including Lord Dunsany and Captain Pollard, but they were always on the side of authority. Good to have someone who is challenging authority in a way that I don't recall seeing since the Callan tv series.
There’s a good amount of depth here to get us really interested in what he’s done, why and at what cost to himself. As ‘well rounded’ a character as any assassin should be! Looking forward to the shorts be good to have some episodic once & done stories to compliment the novel.
It all seems like a good build up for the main character, Pat. Living in a grave digger's cottage sounds as if he's asking for trouble 😅
There isn't anything like reality (or ghosts) smacking you in the face to rid you of some of the previously held stupid notions of youth! I like how he's walked himself into a creative, financial and moral cul de sac before he's obliged to change.
This story is right up my street. WWl and the situation in Ireland. Your story will fulfill Horace's dictum that a story should teach as well as delight. Can't wait to read it.